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Sun, 02 Aug 2015 18:01:14 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1Q & A with Fury President John Pugh, the man who brought professional soccer to Ottawahttp://apt613.ca/q-a-with-fury-president-john-pugh-the-man-who-brought-professional-soccer-to-ottawa/
http://apt613.ca/q-a-with-fury-president-john-pugh-the-man-who-brought-professional-soccer-to-ottawa/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 12:34:33 +0000Josh Lemoinehttp://apt613.ca/?p=87111We spoke with John Pugh, President of Ottawa Fury FC, and the man responsible for bringing professional soccer to Ottawa.

Apt613: Where did you grow up?

A place called Hereford, it’s on the border between England and Wales, Pugh is a Welsh name. It’s famous for Bulmer’s Cider and Strongbow, and obviously Hereford cattle.

What was your favourite team growing up?

I always supported Manchester United. They had a certain aura about them. My boyhood hero was a guy called Denis Law. He was a goalscorer and that’s what I played, so he was my idol.

The OSEG website says you played semi-pro soccer in England. What clubs did you play for? How long?

I played locally in Hereford for a little while, and I chose what university I wanted to go to on the basis of their soccer program. I went to a university in Swansea, and they played in the top league in Wales. The top team in that league actually plays qualifying games for the (UEFA) Europa League, although they don’t get very far generally speaking. That meant that on weekends we were playing against men, who would get paid a little, while we were just students. They were tough games. So when we played other universities it was a piece of cake. We won the British universities championship, and while I was in Swansea there was a scout from Tottenham Hotspurs. That led me to travel to Tottenham where I trained with the first team, not just the academy. But in the end that didn’t work work out, probably for the good, because my computer sciences career was taking off. I did play for Swansea City which played in what was a reserve league for what are now Premier League teams. Then I played in Durham up north where I got a job. And then I got a job in Sheffield where I played for the oldest club in the world, Sheffield FC.

When did you come to Ottawa? What kept you here?

My wife and I, we were in Sheffield, thinking about starting a family, and we said “Well, let’s do something.” At that point I was teaching computer science, and I saw a job posting for a visiting professor at Carleton for a year. So that’s how we arrived here, and we never really went back. It was a great time at Carleton, they were just opening a school of computer science there, so that was a great opportunity for me. My wife teaches the hearing impaired. There’s a great program here which interfaces with a program at CHEO so that kids gets earlier identification of hearing loss, so she was happy as well. We went back [to the UK], sold the house, and 30 years later we’re still here and we never regretted it.

In 2002, you bought the Fury organization. What prompted you to take over Fury at the time?

The Ottawa Fury, September 30, 2014

Yes, myself and two colleagues started a company called The Object People, which got acquired in 2000 just before the bubble burst. I worked for the company that bought us for about 18 months. At that time my son was going through the soccer system here, Ottawa was clearly not the best place to be if you were a good soccer player. If you want to play for the provincial team, the provincial team is based out of Toronto, and therefore it’s tough to get down there every weekend to train with them. If they train midweek, you can’t go. There were a lot of good kids playing soccer, both male and female. Many of them were not getting the opportunity they deserved. Myself and a few others got together and said “what the heck can we do about this?” There was a W-League women’s team here at the time, so we decided we could use that as a vehicle to build a club around, ultimately to do two things. First, to eventually bring professional soccer here for spectators to watch. Second, to build a youth development program that would give Ottawa kids the same chances they would get if they were living in Toronto or Montreal.

By my count, Fury FC has more minutes played by Canadian players than any other team in North America. Is this a conscious effort by the organization?

Yes. Well, they do have to earn that playing time. But the fact is, we set out, if we could, to find a Canadian coaching staff. So we did. It wasn’t that we didn’t interview people that weren’t Canadians. But we felt the best person for the job was Marc Dos Santos. He had great success [coaching] the Impact. He had won a previous incarnation of the league we were about to play in! He’s very worldly, speaks the language of soccer and has had success wherever he’s been. He was brave enough to go to Brazil and coach down there. That’s like a Brazilian ice hockey coach coming up here! You’re not going to get a job easily, you have to earn your stripes. So we brought him in and he built his staff, which is mostly Canadian. It’s true that teams like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver would probably like to have more Canadians playing at the MLS level, and they all have development programs to develop Canadian talent, but when it comes to minutes on the field, its been easier for us to pick up Canadian talent to compete at the NASL level. We’re very happy right now, we have our Canadian National Team captain, Julian De Guzman, playing for us and we’re very proud of that, and yes if you add up the minutes played you’d probably find ourselves and FC Edmonton at the top. If there are two players who are equal, we’ll take the Canadian. Once they’re on the squad, if they earn the time, they earn the time.

The NASL is now in its ‘Fall Season’, which marks a year and a half since Fury FC stepped on the field. What have been some of the challenges you have faced so far?

Obviously there’s been no pro soccer here. There’s no history at the professional level. We had to build an organization from the ground up. We’ve had some advantages, we have a great coach who is a great communicator, and we have a great stadium, probably the best stadium in the league. But it has 24,000 seats to fill, so we have to build a culture and a fan base. That’s probably been the biggest challenge so far. It’s tough being a northern club, because we play earlier in the spring. It’s cold. It’s not exactly ideal conditions to watch a game. But the last three games before the break we had over 5000 in attendance, and we want to keep building on that. We’re trying to emulate what clubs like Portland and Seattle have done in MLS, where there wasn’t always a soccer culture, but the fans have embraced it, with the atmosphere and supporter groups. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish here, with supporter groups like Stony Monday Riot and the Bytown Boys. It’s different in soccer. When you go to a soccer game, YOU are part of the entertainment, which isn’t maybe normal in North American leagues, where sometimes it can be kind of quiet. In soccer there are no signs that say “Hey, now it’s time to make a noise.”

Because of the lack of an established soccer culture, do you feel there is a need to educate the average sports fan in Ottawa about the game?

Yes, and we need them to get to a game, basically. We have a program called the Fury Fanatics which is starting to phase in in a big way. We have 27 clubs participating, and if you count the number of kids they have under [the age of] 14 participating it’s over 20,000 and they’re each given a lanyard which entitles them to come to any game [for free]. That’s beginning to work well. The kids get to watch the pro game in addition to playing the game, they get to experience the atmosphere and get to know the players. We have a lot of players going out in the community. We’ve been doing everything we can think of to interface with the community, and in particular with the soccer community. Canadian Tire is sponsoring the Fanatics, and there’s a cutout of Richie Ryan in every store, so people are starting to get to know our players. There’s player turnover every year obviously, but we’d like some of our senior players to be here a period of time, have kids know who their favourite player is, whose name they want on the back of their jersey.

Last year Fury FC hosted a friendly against Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. Are there any plans for hosting other big international sides?

I’m not sure we’re going to be able to do that this year, but absolutely it’s something we’d like to do. It’s a win-win for everyone. Fans love it, we love it. It’s just a question of being able to do those things financially. Yes, eventually it’ll come. We haven’t been able to do it this year, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. We are looking to do it in the future and we have some ideas.

Yeah, in fact, when we were the ‘old Fury’ [before joining the NASL] we had a partnership with Tottenham Hotspurs which lasted three of four years. So yeah, there are a lot of partnerships underneath the covers,where we have very good connections with other clubs. I can’t say there’s anything in the works, we wouldn’t want to [officially] partner with another club to the detriment of others, but it is a possibility. We’re always talking with other clubs.

There are rumours of a new nation-wide professional Canadian Soccer League in the works. Do you know much about it?

Our national team coach is promoting that idea as something that is necessary. There are a lot of Canadian players playing around the world and not in Canada. Canada has three MLS teams and two NASL teams. That’s not a lot for a country the size of Canada. So yeah, it would be better if we had that, but we also have to have the strong ownership groups that have the ability to operate them at a high level. Our country is at a disadvantage being so stretched from east to west. Yes, does Canada need it’s own league? I think we’d all like to see that. But we need to make sure it’s something that is going to be viable and sustainable for a long period of time. Are there other cities that could sustain an NASL team besides Ottawa and Edmonton? Yeah, I think there are a couple. But has anyone come out concrete and said ‘yes we’re going to do this’? No, I don’t believe so.

Do you think Canada is at a place now where it could support such a league? Would you consider moving Fury FC to such a league?

I think we have to decide at what level that league should be. I think what we’ve found so far are the cities that can support MLS. So that’s that. We a few more cities that can support soccer at the NASL level. Outside of that, can we support a league across Canada? I believe we can, but we have to be careful about how we do it. We need to make sure the right things are in place for it to be successful, and deciding at what level it should be at. The geography issue is considerable, in terms of travel.

[As for moving from NASL] It is premature to even talk about that,but we want to bring the highest level of soccer that we possibly can to the fans. I’m sure if you asked that question in Montreal or Vancouver they would give you the same answer. That’s for the fans, and also for our own players. We’ve got some promising young players in our academy, some of them training with the first team, so now they’ve got something to aspire to.

Lastly, what are your expectations for Fury FC heading into the Fall half of the season?

Well, we’re fighting for one of three playoff spots. New York Cosmos have their spot locked up as Spring Season champions, so we’re looking for one of the three spots left. If our defense performs the way it has, that provides us with a platform to go out and win some games. We’ve signed a new striker [Aly Hassan] and we have our captain back [Ritchie Ryan]. We feel like our Spring Season was hampered by the fact we had a considerable number of injuries to key players. But once we start putting some wins together and start putting some goals in the net, people will start thinking “Hey, let’s go to a Fury game.”

That’s it for my questions. Thank you for bringing professional soccer to Ottawa, and thank you for your time.

]]>http://apt613.ca/q-a-with-fury-president-john-pugh-the-man-who-brought-professional-soccer-to-ottawa/feed/0Escape…with an Ottawa company offering scenic bicycle tourshttp://apt613.ca/escape-with-an-ottawa-company-offering-scenic-bicycle-tours/
http://apt613.ca/escape-with-an-ottawa-company-offering-scenic-bicycle-tours/#commentsSat, 20 Jun 2015 13:38:40 +0000Hollie Davieshttp://apt613.ca/?p=84702A bicycle. That’s what it all began with. I had been wanting to buy a bike for a while now, given that my boyfriend is a pretty avid cyclist and enjoys exploring the city from this unique vantage point. When I came across the opportunity to join a Leisure Bicycle Sightseeing Tour with the new company Escape Bicycle Tours right here in Ottawa, I decided that it was finally time to make that purchase. $60.00 later, I had my very own bike, courtesy of Cycle Salvation, and although it’s used and rusty, in my eyes, it was brand new and sparkling – ready for the paths, scenic river views, and hidden trails.

Ottawa River view

The specific tour that I was about to experience is a condensed version of the longer Escape Tour. Since my default answer to everything is “yes”, it was a no brainer that I would happily participate. But, what exactly was I getting myself into? According to Founder and Tour Operator, Maria Rasouli, “bicycling is the best way to experience Ottawa for tourists and to explore the Ottawa Valley and smaller communities close to Ottawa for locals”. And that is exactly what was in store for us.

The starting point was the parking lot next to the Champlain Bridge, and to my pleasant surprise, the tours do include everything you require: the bicycle itself (even though I decided to bring my own), helmet, water bottle, snack, lunch, as well as the full route planning and guiding. Do bring though: a rain jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, cash, ID card, emergency contact info, and health insurance info. But basically, all you have to do is show up in comfortable clothes and shoes, and enjoy the ride!

The Aylmer Marina

We stopped for sightseeing at several places – including the Aylmer Marina, a local farm, a cafe for lunch, and a bakery – refuelling necessary. Maria’s many tours span completely different locations such as the Cool Neighborhoods Tour (the Glebe, Little Italy, and Westboro), another that brings you all the way to Petrie Island in the suburbs of the East end, and even ultimate weekend getaways.

Maria Rasouli grew up in a small village in the north of Iran, where her greatest joy was riding her bicycle every day, until the age of eleven. That’s when her parents forbade her from this activity as she was becoming a grown up woman and had to behave in a more proper and appropriate manner for women in her culture. After receiving a scholarship from Carleton University to complete her PhD, her first order of business upon arriving in Ottawa was embracing the freedom of being able to cycle once again. So, she started Escape Bicycle Tours in order to share her passion, and the joy and freedom of bicycling in nature.

The Deschenes Rapids

With the belief that a smaller group offers a more relaxed experience, tours are designed for groups of 5-20 people, and include magnificent scenery, museums, local landmarks, traffic-free routes, unique local eateries, farms, and welcoming accommodations. One of the aspects of the tours that I am so happy is included is a love of food, as they select quaint restaurants that feature tasty regional cuisine. Another great thing to remember is that there is no need to be worried about your speed. Their flexibility allows for those of different cycling abilities to share the same trip.

If you’re ready to explore some nature, culture, and heritage from the seat of your bicycle, any other questions you have can all be answered by checking out the Escape Bicycle Tours website here, including a calendar filled with tours to match your schedule – so strap on that helmet and enjoy the ride!

Escape Bicycle Tours is offering a 10% discount for 1/2 day and full-day tours for Apt613 readers! To receive the discount, just mention this article when you register.

]]>http://apt613.ca/escape-with-an-ottawa-company-offering-scenic-bicycle-tours/feed/0Your guide to women’s world cup soccer in Ottawahttp://apt613.ca/your-guide-to-womens-world-cup-soccer-in-ottawa/
http://apt613.ca/your-guide-to-womens-world-cup-soccer-in-ottawa/#commentsTue, 09 Jun 2015 23:17:45 +0000Josh Lemoinehttp://apt613.ca/?p=85267The FIFA Women’s World Cup continues over the next few weeks in cities across Canada. Here in Ottawa, some of the top teams in the world are playing, including No. 1 ranked Germany. TD Place (renamed ‘Lansdowne Stadium’ for the duration of the tournament) hosted it’s first double-header on June 7, with 20,000+ fans taking in the Germany-Côte d’Ivoire and Norway-Thailand games.

The group stage features two more double-headers in Ottawa, on June 11 and June 17. Before you take in more soccer action, don’t go in blind, read our cheat sheet to the rest of the group stage games at Lansdowne!

Summary: Germany hosted the last World Cup in 2011 and were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Japan. With their eyes on making up for a missed opportunity four years ago, the German side went into their opening match looking to make a statement, and it was emphatic. They come into the tournament missing a few key goal scorers, but that clearly didn’t matter as they thrashed Côte d’Ivoire 10-0 (yeah, 10). They should win the group easily, barring an upset (see: Norway).

Player to Watch: Anja Mittag. I mean, she’s…. pretty good. You know, if 11 goals in 10 games in World Cup qualifying is ‘good’. Oh, and she scored a hat trick against Côte d’Ivoire. A goalie’s nightmare.

Summary: Winners of the 1995 World Cup, Norway have always been a strong side. However, they’ll be looking for a major improvement over the 2011 tournament where they were knocked out in the group stage. Having quickly become fan favourites in Ottawa, they should have a lot of the crowd on their side. Norway should provide Germany with their only true test in the group stage. Win or lose, they should move on to the Round of 16 no problem.

Who to Watch: Isabell Herlovsen. Scored twice in the opening match against Thailand. A quick and accurate shooter, she is known for being dangerous even when she is playing as the lone striker. If Norway is going to upset Germany, look for Herlovsen to play a big role.

Côte d’Ivoire

Group: B

World Rank: 67

Previous World Cups: None

Summary: This is Côte d’Ivoire’s first trip to the World Cup, having shocked South Africa in qualifying to get here. They’re opening match dismantling at the hands of Germany wasn’t a huge surprise, given the Ivorians youth and lack of experience. They often have their forwards switch sides multiple times during games, which can make even a seasoned defence have fits. They should be a tough match for Thailand, and may even steal a point or three.

Who to Watch: Ida Guehai. This Ivorian midfielder has been playing for the national team since the age of 16. A consumate playmaker, all offence comes by way of Guehai. If Côte d’Ivoire is to sneak in to the Round of 16, she will have to be at her best. She’ll be looking for top striker Estelle Nahi all night.

Thailand

Group: B

World Rank: 29

Previous World Cups: None

Summary: For Thailand, qualifying for the World Cup is already an astonishing accomplishment, having upset some much more experienced Asian teams to qualify. One of the smaller sides in the tournament, Thailand lost their opening match 4-0 to Norway. This lack of size will only be more noticeable against the more physically imposing Germans. With a positive result against Côte d’Ivoire, they may squeak into the Round of 16, but likely no further.

Who to Watch: Nisa Romyen. Known as much for her tenacity as her playfulness, she should be the most entertaining player on the field. A talented goal scorer as well (14 goals in 9 international games), look for her to try some trick moves against Côte d’Ivoire

Mexico

Group: F

World Rank: 25

Previous World Cups: 1999 (group stage), 2011 (group stage)

Summary: Many players from the squad in 2011 have returned for 2015. Realistically, Mexico doesn’t pose a real threat to France, and likely won’t move past the Round of 16, but they have upset higher ranked teams before, notably the United States before the 2011 World Cup. Against France though, they will be fighting to keep it close.

Who to Watch: Cecilia Santiago. The Mexican goalkeeper is only 20 years old, but is already playing in her second World Cup. Easily one of the best keepers in the tournament, she’s good for a few jaw-dropping saves per game.

France

Group: F

World Rank: 3

Previous World Cups: 2003 (group stage), 2011 (4th place)

Summary: France have been dominant the last few years, rising quickly in the world rankings to 3rd. They’re expected to win Group F, although the match against England will likely determine who wins the group. If France loses that game, Mexico can expect to see a very, very angry team.

Who to Watch: Louisa Necib. Maybe the games most creatively brilliant player over the course of her career so far, she has been compared, rightfully, to Zinedine Zidane. At 28 she is in her prime and is a main reason France is one of the favourites in this tournament.

Korea Republic

Group: E

World Rank: 18

Previous World Cups: 2003 (group stage)

Summary: The Koreans have a lot of talent, but they’re quite young and not terribly big. They won’t give a team like Brazil much trouble, but against Spain they may pose a threat. This tournament will be valuable experience for a team full of youth, and an upset against the Spanish isn’t out of the question.

Who to Watch: Ji So-Yun. Already having been named the women’s Player of the Year in England, this will be Ji So-Yun’s coming out party on the world stage. A playmaker and goal-scorer, she played a starring role on Chelsea’s women’s team, and will be dangerous whenever she’s on the field. She’ll be the motor that powers the offence for Korea Republic.

Spain

Group: E

World Rank: 14

Previous World Cups: None

Summary: I know what you’re thinking, NO previous World Cup appearances?? Spain?? It’s true. In macho Spain, women’s soccer has received proper funding only very recently. Now ranked 14th in the world, they’ll be playing for the respect of the soccer public back home, as much as for themselves. Brazil is expected to win Group E, but Spain should move on in second, though they should not take their match against Korea Republic lightly.

Who to Watch: Veronica Boquete. Though Spain is not considered a powerhouse yet, they do boast arguably one of the best players in the world in Boquette. Playing professionally for the German women’s league champions Bayern Munich, and previously named 2011 American Women’s Professional League Player of the Year, Boquette sees the game at another level, and can dictate the pace of a game at will. In the same category as Canada’s Christine Sinclair or Brazil’s Marta.

Now that you have all that you need to know, it’s time to get to a game! Remember, your ticket is also good for a bus ride on OC Transpo or STO both to AND from the stadium. There is also a bike valet on site.

World Cup Schedule in Ottawa:

JUNE 11

Group B: Germany v. Norway @ 4pm

Group B: Côte d’Ivoire v. Thailand @ 7pm

JUNE 17

Group F: Mexico v. France @ 4pm

Group E: Korea Republic v. Spain @ 7pm

JUNE 20

Round of 16 game @ 4pm (Teams TBD)

JUNE 22

Round of 16 game @ 5pm (Teams TBD)

JUNE 26

Quarter-Final match @ 7:30pm (Teams TBD)

]]>http://apt613.ca/your-guide-to-womens-world-cup-soccer-in-ottawa/feed/0It’s time to bust out your boxing gloves, Ottawahttp://apt613.ca/its-time-to-bust-out-your-boxing-gloves-ottawa/
http://apt613.ca/its-time-to-bust-out-your-boxing-gloves-ottawa/#commentsTue, 28 Apr 2015 12:32:42 +0000Marina Irickhttp://apt613.ca/?p=83133It’s time to bust out your boxing gloves. Never owned a pair? That’s fine, too. The energetic fitness leaders at UMTBC Lifestyle Center on Hamilton Avenue in Hintonburg are anxious to teach you the basics – or the complex combos – of Muay Thai boxing.

I’ll admit, the first time I stepped foot in the studio to try the Foundations class, I was a bit nervous. The upbeat music was blasting, the fitness instructors were bouncing around bursting with energy and smiles, and some experienced-looking members were taping up their wrists. I could only think: What am I getting myself into?

But my jitters faded as I was approached by Riad Basile, one of the instructors, who welcomed me with great enthusiasm – asking how I’d heard of them. His friendly and supportive demeanor made me feel at ease.

The class began with a fast-paced warm-up including jumping jacks and burpees, which involves jumping up, crouching down, and then doing a push-up. My heart was pounding in no time. I soon realized though that you don’t have to be an experienced boxing athlete to get by in the class – Corey Sheikh, the CEO, and the other instructors will help you perfect your pose. But even if you can’t figure out the difference between a “cross” and a “jab” – let alone your left from right hand – they’ll offer words of encouragement.

If you’re particularly uneasy, you can meet with one of the instructors one-on-one 15 minutes before the class to work on your technique. Included in the one-month membership, you’ll also get a one-on-one fitness assessment.

The “Lifestyle Center” concept means that UMTBC not only provides fitness classes, but you can also learn how to meditate, receive nutritional counseling, and even participate in sound healing – a unique experience that uses various instruments including the digeridoo and Tibetan Bowls.

Corey Sheikh explains that UMTBC was originally called Ultimate Muay Thai Boot Camp, and was geared towards individuals wanting to get in shape, learn martial arts, and have fun.

“As the idea progressed, the company took a turn into a much more expansive direction,” Corey says. “Deepening myself into meditation practices, physical movement training and nutritional changes I, along with Mike Alemao (other co-founder), went through a deep transformation which led us to re-evaluating our vision and bringing together a more holistic vision for what the lifestyle center was to become.”

The center offers a free class on Sunday afternoons called Renew, a great way to get started and learn the basics in a non-intimidating setting.

If you’re up for a challenge, instructor Tiffany Garnett will make sure that your muscles are tired after her Elevate classes – which brings together yoga, Muay Thai, plyometrics, and calisthenics. The “sculpt” version of the class involves circuit weight training, and the “plyometrics” version of the class has you doing lots of push-ups and jumping.

After your first class, be prepared for a friendly follow-up phone call the next day, just to check in and get some feedback from you.

It’s a tough, rewarding workout in a positive community-driven atmosphere – that teaches you some self-defense in the meantime. A win-win!

UMTBC is very active on social media – so follow them! @UMTBC on Instagram and on Facebook.

]]>http://apt613.ca/its-time-to-bust-out-your-boxing-gloves-ottawa/feed/0Countdown to FIFA: Team Canada’s top Canucks to watchhttp://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-team-canadas-top-canucks-to-watch/
http://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-team-canadas-top-canucks-to-watch/#commentsWed, 22 Apr 2015 21:55:38 +0000Dylan Barnabehttp://apt613.ca/?p=82931As a countdown to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Apartment613 is embarking on a six-part series that will take a look at women’s soccer in and around the city. With less than 50 days until the tournament begins, we decided to take a look at Team Canada’s top Canucks in 2015.

Since their stunning bronze medal performance at the 2012 Summer Olympic in London, Team Canada has been hard at work to prepare for this summer’s international showdown. Though they suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the United States in the semi-finals, the team’s hard work and dedication won over fans worldwide and put Canada firmly on the map—and captain Christine Sinclair on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Today, under the watchful eye of coach John Herdman, the team is faster, stronger and more agile than ever before. In fact, it’s mindboggling to even imagine that once upon a time these Canucks finished last place in the 2011 World Cup.

A mere four years later, Team Canada is set to return to the stage as one of the top teams in the world. In June, the team will begin its quest for gold against the People’s Republic of China—and you can bet coach Herdman will be turning to his top players to lead the charge.

But who are Canada’s major movers and shakers? Though the roster won’t be officially revealed until April 27, we thought we’d weigh in our picks for this summer. For those of you unfamiliar with the titans of Team Canada, we’ve outlined this summer’s top players to watch.

Christine has been one of the world’s best female soccer players for more than a decade and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2013. Though already plenty popular at home, her hat trick against the United States during the semifinals of the 2012 Summer Olympics cemented her reputation as one of Canada’s great sports heroes. Christine had her debut with the national team at 16 and has put in 217 starts. Christine is especially dangerous in front of the net with a record 153 goals for her country. Her passion for the game is unparalleled (her coach calls her the “Rolls Royce” of players—all class) and, as captain, she will lead the team in this year’s quest for gold.

Fun fact: Melissa holds the record for the second-fastest goal in World Cup history (just 37 seconds) scored during the 2007 World Cup in China. Since starting with the team in 2004, she’s established herself as a strong player with an attacking mindset. Watch for her to make a splash this summer as a key component of Canada’s offensive game. Off the pitch, Melissa greatly values her education and holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree and a Masters in Sports Science and Rehabilitation.

This 25-year-old powerhouse has moved on from her old nickname of “supersub” (after her ability to come off the bench and score) to much greater heights as she helps bolster Canada’s offensive line. She’s one of the younger players on the team, but prides herself on her mental game. Jonelle is always looking to improve her skills and find the back of the net.

While many of her fellow teammates are well into their 20s and 30s, Jessie is the youngest player on the team at 17. If she is named to the roster this month, then the tournament will mark her first World Cup appearance. Jessie is a skilled midfielder and relatively new to the team with only 10 starts. She’ll have the opportunity to prove herself on the world stage this summer and playmaking skills to the next level. Team Canada’s breakout star? Time will tell.

Both of these keepers get special mention as they are top notch. Erin has 100 starts for Team Canada and is known for her steady performances in net. She has excellent positional play and has a knack for when to come off her line. If Karina gets the starting position in goal, it will mark her fifth World Cup appearance. She was 18 when she made her debut for Team Canada and has since had 101 starts for the national team. The 35-year-old keeper is known for her energy and enthusiasm, but also her wicked saves.

As for the odds of seeing these stars up close and personal in Ottawa this summer? If the Canadians can place second in the group round and win their round-of-16 match, they could play at TD Place in the quarterfinal.

Stay tuned for part four in the series. Catch up on parts one and two.

The first thing that pops into my head when thinking about my experience at Wheelhouse Cycle is the song “Bicycle Race” by Queen. For those of you that are not familiar with the song the beginning goes like this; “Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle.” And at wheelhouse Cycle that is exactly what you get to do!

Upon entering the new spin gym, located at 1279 Wellington Street West, you are greeted with an energy that can only be described as electric. The passion and positivity felt as soon as you enter will make your day brighter. Heather Andrews and Nadine Hogan (co-owners) are huge reasons behind this uplifting experience. Each have their own reason for their love of spinning and this love brought them together through a mutual friend.

Heather was an avid runner for the longest time, which started to take a toll on her joints. Her doctor told her to try spinning as it’s a much lower impact exercise for your knees, and so she did.

Nadine has been into the spinning scene for quite some time. She also enjoys Yoga, which she has been able to integrate into her spin classes.

Once these two connected there was no looking back. Heather and Nadine decided to build an intimate, high energized environment to encourage people to pursue their health, wellness and fitness goals. They called this place Wheelhouse Cycle. They have been working day and night to make this dream come true. Personally training each of Wheelhouse Cycle’s 13 other spin instructor’s from Heather’s basement and opening the doors of their studio for the first time early in March has kept these two very busy.

From the moment I put my shoes on I knew I was going to be in good hands. Heather got me all set up on my bike for my first ride. She made sure my seat was adjusted properly for my height and that I knew how to clip my shoes in; then walked in our instructor…Ginny Robinson. As soon as Ginny walked in the room the energy level went up about ten notches. She introduced herself to everyone in the class and made sure everyone was all set for their 50 minute spinning session. Once Ginny was convinced everyone was ready she started her playlist and the class began.

Every playlist at Wheelhouse Cycle is choreographed to be exactly the right length and to provide the optimal workout. Each song is the precise length it needs to be to push the class just the right amount. One thing that separates the classes at Wheelhouse Cycle from any other spinning class is that you ride with the beat of the music. Therefore the thought that goes into each playlist is of the utmost importance. This must be why hours and hours go into making each individual playlist.

From the playlist that Ginny put together for us, it was apparent that she meant business. We started with a nice road race to warm-up our legs. Once ready, Ginny held nothing back! She made sure we pushed ourselves to our limits by getting us to increase the resistance, getting up off of the bike seat, and adding in some weighted exercises for our arms. As someone who is not foreign to weight training I was unsure at first if the small 5 pound weights would have an effect, but Ginny put that unsureness to rest. She ensured that we not only worked our legs and core, but that we got our arms into the mix allowing for a full body workout.

I can definitely say that by the end of the 50 minutes I was sweating, smiling and re-energized.

The atmosphere, music, instructors, and owners at Wheelhouse Cycle make you feel at home from the moment you step in the studio. Each rider is given undivided attention before, during and after each session making them feel at ease and comfortable. In all my experience at wheelhouse was great! I left with a smile knowing I had worked as hard as I could.

If ever you need a pick-me-up or some high energy exercise I would highly recommend going to see the ladies at wheelhouse.

]]>http://apt613.ca/wheelhouse-cycle-features-a-spin-class-that-calls-itself-a-dance-party/feed/1Weekend Roundup: Quoi faire ce weekend?http://apt613.ca/weekend-roundup-quoi-faire-ce-weekend-9/
http://apt613.ca/weekend-roundup-quoi-faire-ce-weekend-9/#commentsThu, 02 Apr 2015 15:20:50 +0000Jean McLernonhttp://apt613.ca/?p=81979This first weekend of April brings warmer weather and the passing of annual prankster day. With all the festival lineups being released, it finally feels like the fun can start. This weekend is an excellent opportunity to pick up something new with a Bubble Soccer Tourament, Glass Blowing and free hot dog parties.

Thursday evening marks Fringe Festivals annual Stiff Quickies fundraiser. This collection of short films, tall drinks and deep pockets is the primary fundraiser for Fringe Festival and takes place at Arts Court with some of the best local filmmakers like Ray Besharah, Pascal Huot, and Corey Thibert among others screening their shorts. If films aren’t your thing, walk around the corner to Mugshots and take in some Simpson’s Trivia. Teams can be 1-4 people and only cost $4/team. House of Targ is having their Rock n’ Roll Hot Dog Party starting at 9pm with no cover, free hot dogs and awesome records played all night long.

Friday night, Monday I Retire takes the stage alongside Suits & Toques and Static Gold at The Rainbow. Check back this pm for our interview with the band. Mugshots is hosting The Vinyl Frontier where everyone can bring 1-2 records to play the songs they want. This is their fourth Bring Your Own Vinyl night and has no cover at the door.

Algonquin College is having a Bubble Soccer Tournament Saturday afternoon. Each player is guaranteed at least 2 games in the tournament, and this amazingly fun new sport runs only 20 minute games. Proceeds from the tournament go to the John Howard Society. Handmade Bride is having their Love, Handmade. Wedding Show at Memorial Hall. Handmade Bride might be one of the most interesting bridal shops in the city and is full of vintage, organic and handcrafted dresses made from handed-down gowns.

Saturday night, Mugshot’s has Fryquency, a pay what you can all ages event that runs monthly. This months edition hosts Del Bel, Scattered Clouds, and Year of Glad. The Delta Hotel is hosting a Culture Chic Affair promoting local businesses that cater to the African, Caribbean and other major cultures within the city and nationwide. IFCO is also having a screening of their newest filmmakers during I’m A Filmmaka! at Arts Court for 7pm.

Finally, Sunday has Flo’s Glassblowing holding demonstrations and a gallery sale in celebration of their 4th year. Raw Sugar Cafe hosts Brew-Ha-Ha, a monthly music and comedy event featuring some of the funniest open mic material around.

Make sure to take snapshots of all your fun for Apt613’s #apt613wknd project showing the city’s most exciting activities.

]]>http://apt613.ca/weekend-roundup-quoi-faire-ce-weekend-9/feed/0Countdown to FIFA 2015: A family’s friendly feudhttp://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-2015-a-familys-friendly-feud/
http://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-2015-a-familys-friendly-feud/#commentsMon, 09 Mar 2015 12:14:55 +0000Dylan Barnabehttp://apt613.ca/?p=80827As a countdown to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Apartment613 is embarking on a six-part series that will take a look at women’s soccer in and around the city. Our inaugural piece focused on Pilar Khoury, star striker for the University of Ottawa’s varsity squad.But what about the city’s other resident university women’s squad? Part two delves deeper into the rivalry between the uOttawa Gee-Gees and Carleton Ravens. But after speaking to head coach Raz El-Asmar, we were surprised to find out that the two opposing teams share a much closer bond than we thought.

Raz is well-known throughout Ottawa’s soccer community. In addition to his position as head coach of the Ravens, Raz is the head coach and Technical Director of Youth Development with Capital United Soccer Club—and has been for more than 20 years. It goes without saying that he is a longstanding advocate for the Beautiful Game and is passionate about taking the sport to the next level in Ottawa.

“There have been many years of inconsistencies and misleading approaches to identify the priorities of the Canadian soccer game,” he says of the state of soccer in Canada. “But I think we are entering a very exciting chapter. There’s lots of buzz surrounding the game, especially with us hosting the FIFA Women World Cup in June, as well as the recent growth in professional league play.

“The approach to long term player development is finally being adopted through a grassroots movement and promoted at all levels with qualified and professional coaching. The long term benefits may not be seen in the immediate, but with consistency, the future looks promising.”

Since entering the Ravens’s nest—first as an assistant coach in 2012 and then as head coach in 2014—, Raz has helped the team find great success. Most notably, in 2013, the Ravens beat the uOttawa Gee-Gees for the first time in history. In a stunning 4-1 victory, the win was a moment that defined the team’s renewed focus and determination.

“My philosophy is to ensure a positive and a nurturing environment where all players can develop to the best of their abilities and maximize their potential,” says Raz. “Winning is important, but my priority is first on player development on and off the field in the hopes of instilling confidence, discipline, motivation, caring and—above all—humility.

“The keys to success are first to develop cohesiveness and a family environment among players, then work on building trust in one another. Also, work ethic, sincerity, focus and a winning mentality.”

Speaking of family environments, did we mention that Raz’s daughter regularly takes on his team as a member of the uOttawa Gee-Gees?

Vanessa El-Asmar, the youngest child of four, plays for the cross-town rivals as a midfielder.

“On the outside looking in, I can see how others could perceive the situation as a conflict of interest, but we truly have a great deal of fun with it,” says Vanessa. “We tease each other about our respective teams and always try and argue about who will do better.”

While it’s common for many people to take part in a good sports rivalry, it’s another thing entirely to bring one home. But the father-daughter duo are good sports about their unique situation and often poke fun at it.

“We try and playfully get hints on game plans, lineups and formations,” Vanessa says about the nights prior to derby games. “But always to no avail.”

Though he may not be her coach at the university level, Raz has coached his daughter at the club level for many years. The two are very close and share a special connection through soccer. Over the years, Vanessa has taken away many valuable insights from her father.

“To explain all I’ve learned from my dad would take an insurmountable amount of time, so I’ll try and give you a couple of key points that will always stay with me,” says the young midfielder. “Compete, work hard and be the best version of yourself every day, while always staying humble and respectful of your teammates and the opposing team.”

True to her word, Vanessa only has respect for the opposing team—and its coaching staff.

“I cheer for him to win every single game but the ones against me,” she says with a smile. “When we have the chance, we go to each other’s games and cheer each other on.”

And as for dad?

“Although Vani would look much better in a Ravens jersey, my immediate desire is for her to have her greatest performance,” says the head coach and proud father. “I’m grateful and feel blessed to have the opportunity to coach and enjoy watching my daughter play and perform—even if it’s for the opposition.”

]]>http://apt613.ca/basement-819-du-4-mars-2015-les-tulipes-ont-vu-leur-ombre-le-printemps-sen-vient-on-epluche-les-programmations-de-scene-ontario-ottawa-dragon-boat-festival-et-du-festival-divercine/feed/0Countdown to FIFA 2015: Apt613 talks to uOttawa’s star striker Pilar Khouryhttp://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-2015-apt613-talks-to-uottawas-star-striker-pilar-khoury/
http://apt613.ca/countdown-to-fifa-2015-apt613-talks-to-uottawas-star-striker-pilar-khoury/#commentsFri, 30 Jan 2015 19:00:11 +0000Dylan Barnabehttp://apt613.ca/?p=79417As a countdown to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Apartment613 is embarking on a six-part series that will take a look at women’s soccer in and around the city. Our inaugural piece focuses on one local athlete who’s no stranger to making waves at the national level. We got in touch with Pilar Khoury, star striker for the University of Ottawa’s varsity squad and one of this year’s All-Canadian athletes.

For those of you not familiar with the talented veteran Gee-Gee, Pilar has been playing at the university level for uOttawa since 2011. This year alone, the striker was awarded her division’s most valuable player award, led the team in scoring with 14 goals, earned a Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) All-Canadian First-Team spot and took home a bronze medal at the national championships. (She’s even travelled to Russia to represent Canada at the FISU Games during the Summer Universiade in 2013.)

“I don’t particularly enjoy individual sports,” she says about her initial decision to pursue soccer. “I chose soccer because I loved the idea of having a ball at your feet. I tried other sports, but nothing really compared to the feeling when you step on the soccer pitch.”

Soccer has always been a part of Pilar’s life. Her grandfather played semi-pro in Lebanon and instilled a deep sense of respect for the game in his young granddaughter. As she grew up, she dribbled her way through opponents and developed her own style of creative play.

You see, Pilar doesn’t just score: she scores with flare. It’s not uncommon to watch a game at uOttawa’s Marc Anthony field and see the men’s competitive team cheering her on from the stands and exchanging awestruck expressions when she pulls off a daring move on an opponent. She’s fast and furious with the ball, and well-known for her incredible lightness of touch.

“Practice, motivation and passion,” she says of what it takes to keep her touch on the ball sharp. “It’s the hours spent outside of practice doing the same movements over and over again, watching YouTube videos for technique and seeing how the pros do it on TV. For me, it’s not just about beating a defender, but more how you can beat a defender while entertaining the people watching you.”

Pilar watches her favourite player, Christian Ronaldo, as a source of inspiration. Her signature move is known in the soccer world as the “nutmeg” and occurs when a player manages to put the ball successfully through an opposing player’s legs.

“It’s funny because people think that putting the ball between someone’s legs is luck, but it’s really about reading someone’s body shape,” says the striker. “It takes a lot of practice!”

But perhaps nothing compares to the feeling of scoring a goal. Considering Pilar holds uOttawa’s record for most goals in a season, she’s had her fair share of success.

“It’s exciting to score, especially goals that tie or win the game—and also goals that get your team motivated and brings back momentum,” she says. “It’s really something special to see everyone celebrate a ball going into the net. Everyone feels that same level of excitement and joy that you are, and it makes it that much better when you get to share that feeling with others.”

Pilar is very humbled by her experiences at uOttawa and gives full credit to her teammates and coaches for creating such a positive environment and team dynamic.

“I think it was a big part of our success this year,” she says. “Playing at the university level is something I hope every soccer player can experience at some point. The level of play is great, you build a second home, teammates become family and you really create memories that last a lifetime.”

In the summer, Pilar plays for the Gloucester women’s premier team. There, she’s helped them to secure two back-to-back league titles. She’s looking forward to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and seeing Canadians come together as a community to watch an event that has gained increasing support over the last few decades.

“I think you’re seeing more and more girls not just getting excited about soccer in general, but also wanting to play at a higher level. More and more girls come out to watch us play during our season and it’s just great to see that.”

So what has the Beautiful Game taught Pilar?

“In a lot of ways, it’s taught me things that are essential to life outside of sport—like being confident and never giving up,” she says with a smile. “It’s taught me how to be a better person. No matter what is going on in my life outside of sports, soccer is always an outlet that never fails.”